Introduction

The Life Science Informatics Forum, established in 2021, is a developing community focused on sparking discussions on leading-edge topics within the broader Life Science Informatics arena and, more specifically, the Biopharma R&D informatics sector.

Evolution Timeline

 

  • 2021: Birth of the Forum

  • 2022: Initiation of the first series of meetings

  • 2023: A year of growth with four insightful meetings

  • 2024: Established Steering Committees across the globe


Sponsors

Zifo logo

 

Steering Committees

The forum’s direction is guided by well-recognised informaticians viz:
 

USA

  • Devendra Deshmukh – Excelra
  • Stephen Wing – MilliporeSigma
  • Cathy Kuang – Takeda
  • Jake Janey – Vertex

Switzerland

  • Sven Neumeyer – Novartis
  • Nik Stiefl – Roche
  • Claudio Battilocchio – Syngenta

BENELUX

  • Pieter Peeters – Galapagos
  • Quentin Grignet – GSK
  • Bert Torfs – Johnson & Johnson

Germany

  • Lars Greiffenberg – AbbVie
  • Sheila Elz – Bayer
  • Karsten Quast – Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Lars von Wedel – Grunenthal
  • Thomas Fuerst – Merck KGaA
  • Angelika Fuchs – Roche Diagnostics GmbH

UK

  • Derrek Marren – AstraZeneca
  • Darren Green – DesignPlus Cheminformatics Consultants
  • Phillip Sanseau – GSK
  • Bryn Williams-Jones – Independent Consultant
  • Anthony Rowe – Johnson & Johnson

 
Their combined expertise ensures discussions are relevant and transformative.

 

European Life Science Informatics Forum Swiss Chapter

June 26, 2025 — Basel, Switzerland

Advancing a Scientific Framework for GenAI: Use Cases and Workforce Education

Key Discussion Points

Since inception, the forum has explored several “hot topics” such as:

  • Addressing the data science skills deficit
  • Leveraging the power of Large Language Models
  • Knowledge Graphs
  • The opportunities for Digital Twins

 

Session Format:

  • Forum kick-off; greeting from that the meeting’s sponsor. This is followed by 3-4 brief presentations, each lasting 15-20 minutes, by specialists well-versed in the chosen theme to provide the body of knowledge to inform the later discussions.
  • Networking.
  • Facilitated Interactive Debates: Engaging group discussions, enriched by the earlier sessions.
  • Post-meeting reception, courtesy of the meeting sponsor.

 

Member Dynamics

With a strong membership base, we try to follow the “rule of 30” for our meetings. This ensures that while we have a comprehensive range of perspectives, the gathering remains of a size to allow for uninhibited dialogues.

Connect & Collaborate

If you would like the opportunity to engage in relevant informatics discussions and network with fellow practitioners in the industry, contact: